Brien D. Ray, 43

Brien D Ray died in Seattle on Dec. 23 after a short battle with an undiagnosed liver disorder.

Brien D. Ray was born March 31, 1966 in Santa Clara, Calif. The family made their home in the San Jose and Antioch area until relocating to Moore, Okla. when Brien was 12. He attended Moore High until his sophomore year, when he achieved his GED.

He worked for the Coca Cola Company and in the oil fields until 1986. During this time he met and married his first wife Wendy Baker on Sept. 29, 1984. In April 1986, they welcomed Lisa Danielle Lee Ray. In November 1986 he joined the United States Navy and became a torpedo man, on the USS Nevada, stationed at Sub-base Bangor. The couple divorced in 1990.

In March 1990 he was discharged and relocated in Kingston. He married Gayle Long in Aug. 25, 1990. In 1991 he was accepted in the apprenticeship program for NW Sheet Metal Union Local 66. He turned out as journeyman in 1996. From 1996 he worked for Holaday Parks Inc. until he injured himself and was pensioned in 2006. Brien also had a son, Jonathan Ray in 1992, and another daughter Nika Ray in 1997. He kept busy taking care of his kids, and working on cars with his son. He enjoyed camping, fishing and most of all NASCAR, attending several races with his dad, brothers and other family. He was a joker at heart, but a devoted family man, and attended church at Kingston Christian Church.

He was preceded in death by his daughter Victoria Diane Ray.

Brien is survived by his wife Gayle; daughters Lisa Mckenzie and her husband Caleb; Nanika Ray and his son Jonathan Ray, His mother and father, Nora and Willie D Ray, his siblings Willie D Ray III, Shelly, Larry, Carey and Jeff Ray; grandchildren Joshua and Kaylee Mckenzie; and many other relatives and friends.

Service is to be held at Kingston Christian Church at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 4, 2010. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to University of Washington Liver Research Foundation. An online guest book is at www.cookfamilyfuneralhome.com.